GB826679A - Improvements in or relating to punched card handling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

826,679. Statistical apparatus. SPERRY RAND CORPORATION. June 13, 1956 [June 13, 1955], No. 18333/56. Class 106 (1). Sensing apparatus for record cards comprises means for feeding the cards 51, Fig. 13, to bring the rows of data positions in succession under the sensing brushes 87, photo-electric means for detecting a card fed to sensing position and for initiating a succession of electric pulses for application to the sensing brushes, these pulses being synchronized by a magnetic disc 82 rotating in time with the card feeding rollers so as to coincide with the data positions. As the leading- edge of the card passes over the photo-cell 90 a pulse is generated and passed through gate G100 both to recording head 83 and to the sensing brushes 87 to coincide with the passing of the first row of data under the brushes. The magnetic mark recorded by the head 83 is read by head 84 and passed through gate G109 back to the recording head and also to the brushes 87 where it coincides with the second row of data. The cards are fed from a hopper 17, Fig. 3, by a knife 21 on picker arm 22. The arm is oscillated by a cam 26 and may be latched in one extreme position by a latch 28 controlled by a magnet 29. The cam shaft is driven by a belt from motor 25, the belt also passing over pulleys serving to drive the feed rollers 47, 48 for the cards. The magnetic disc 82 is fastened to the middle lower roller shaft. On emerging from the last pair of rollers the card is taken by grippers on drum 54 and carried round to be stacked on plate 62. If an error is detected in any card the lever 67 is swung into the path of the card to draw it out of the grippers and cause it to fall into the error pocket 16. The sensing brushes 87 are mounted on a cross-bar 86 of insulating material, there being eighty brushes; one for each column of the cards. All brushes are pulsed by the circulating sprocket pulse and where the pulse coincides with the registration of a brush with a card perforation, the pulse is transmitted to a contact strip under the card. In another form the picker knife is modified by the provision of a suction chamber adapted to grip the card adjacent the knife edge. A suction chamber is also provided across the width of the feed hopper adjacent the exit throat 17b. Slots are provided in the floor of the hopper so that the card is drawn downwardly and passes through the throat without jamming.